Astros’ Trey Mancini, Chas McCormick preserve World Series Game 5 win with clutch defensive plays
Mancini #Mancini
Defense wins championships. That’s how that cliche goes, right?
The Astros are one win away from a 2022 World Series title, due in large part to the sensational play of their defense late in a 3-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 5 on Thursday.
First baseman Trey Mancini and outfielder Chas McCormick got business done with their gloves, with each making tremendous grabs in the eighth and ninth inning, respectively to keep the Astros ahead of the Phillies, leading to the win that put the club up 3-2 in the series.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies were trying to rally when Mancini made his play. Jean Segura had just knocked in a run to cut Houston’s lead to 3-2, With runners on first and third, Astros manager Dusty Baker turned to his closer, Ryan Pressly, for a five-out save.
MORE: How Jeremy Pena has set himself apart from other rookie shortstops in World Series
Pressly struck out Brandon Marsh, but then Kyle Schwarber ripped a ground ball down the first-base line — and right into the glove of Mancini, who had come on as a pinch hitter for a shaken-up Yuli Gurriel in the top of the inning.
Mancini was holding Segura, who represented the go-ahead run, which put him closer to the first-base line than he normally would be. It worked out in Houston’s favor as he smothered Schwarber’s one-hopper and stepped on the bag to end the inning with Houston’s lead still intact.
The defense wasn’t done, though. In the bottom of the ninth, McCormick made a highlight-reel leaping grab in center field to rob J.T. Realmuto of an extra-base hit.
Instead of Realmuto being on base for the dangerous Bryce Harper, McCormick’s leap and catch put the Phillies down to their final out with the bases empty. Harper was hit by a pitch but then Nick Castellanos grounded out to shortstop Jeremy Pena to end the game.
“I thought he hit it out,” McCormick said after the game of Realmuto’s drive. “Put a really good swing on it, he’s a great hitter. That time of the game, you’ve just got to be focused on defense . . . I saw the wall, I saw the warning track and it was just high enough for me to get it, reach out and go get it. I’m just happy we won.”
MORE: Why a fan called Rob Manfred a crude name at Game 5
Not only was McCormick’s catch one of the best plays seen in World Series history, it also came in the stadium he attended while growing up. McCormick is from West Chester, Pa., in the Philadelphia area, and grew up a Phillies fan.
Strong defensive play helped Houston get to its fourth World Series in six seasons. Now, the team is one win away from securing its first title since 2017 and second in franchise history thanks to more glovework.